1. The Quad nations (Australia, India, Japan, and the United States) issued the Wilmington Declaration on September 21, 2024, emphasizing their commitment to sustainable energy solutions, particularly high-efficiency cooling systems.
2. India and the U.S. developed a joint roadmap for building resilient global clean energy supply chains with focus on clean cooling technologies, including plans to expand manufacturing of high-efficiency air-conditioners and ceiling fans.
3. The Montreal Protocol's Kigali Amendment (2016) targets the reduction of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which could contribute to 0.52°C of global warming by 2100 if left unchecked.
4. Efficient cooling systems could achieve about two-thirds of total greenhouse gas reductions through reduced electricity consumption, leading to lower emissions and reduced air pollution from fossil fuel power plants.
5. Many developing nations face the risk of becoming dumping grounds for inefficient cooling appliances due to lack of integrated energy efficiency and refrigerant standards.
6. India experienced temperatures exceeding 50°C in 2024, with projections indicating 160-200 million Indians could face deadly heatwaves annually by 2030, while air conditioner sales increase 16% for every degree above 30°C.
7. India is projected to have the world's highest cooling demand by 2050, with over 1.14 billion air conditioners expected to be in use.
8. After ratifying the Kigali Amendment in 2021, India committed to reduce HFCs by 85% by 2047, while the India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) aims to reduce cooling demand by 20-25% and energy consumption by 25-40%.
9. At COP28 in Dubai, 63 countries made a Global Cooling Pledge to reduce cooling emissions by 68% by 2050, potentially providing cooling access to 3.5 billion people and saving $17 trillion in energy costs.
10. The initiative requires establishing an inter-ministerial working group, implementing national capacity-building programs, and ensuring dedicated budget allocations for long-term success.
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